Activities
Meetings
All NAMI of CI meetings are free, open to the public, and require no registration.
NAMI of CI Meetings
NAMI of CI meetings are a place to learn about current issues impacting people affected by mental illnesses and to get to know NAMI members and other attendees. Meetings often feature speakers with special knowledge about particular mental health issues. Visit our news page for upcoming topics and speakers.
Meetings are open to the public--in fact, we encourage all community members to come and learn about mental health issues.
Date: Third Tuesday of each month
Time: 7:00 pm
Place: Collegiate Presbyterian Church, Sheldon and West Streets, Ames (unless otherwise noted)
Sharing and Caring
Sharing and Caring is a support group where family members can share concerns and problems with mental illness with others who can relate to their situations. The group is open to anyone; no registration is required.
Date: Third Tuesday of each month
Time: 6:00-7:00 pm
Place: Collegiate Presbyterian Church, Sheldon and West Streets, Ames (unless otherwise noted)
Peer Support For Mental Illness
This is a support group for people with a diagnosed mental illness can share concerns and problems with mental illness with others who can relate to their situations. All groups are open to everyone; no registration is required.
NAMI Connection
Every Thursday from 2:00 - 3:30 pm at Collegiate United Methodist Church, 2622 W Lincoln Way, Room 44
Share and Care
Every 3rd Tuesday from 6:00 - 7:00 pm
Collegiate Presbyterian Church, Sheldon and West Streets, Ames (unless otherwise noted)
Courses
NAMI of CI organizes the following free courses that are open to anyone who registers. Contact the NAMI of CI office or visit our news page for upcoming courses.
Visit the NAMI national website to learn about even more courses offered by NAMI affiliates.
Wishing Wellness
A new class for children ages 6-12 who have a parent with a mental illness has been developed. This class will be taught by a child therapist using proven materials. During the class the children will have an opportunity to talk about their parent's illness and to make a plan should their parent need hospitalization. The class is designed to empower and educate the children, therefore your child needs to know that you have an illness before the classes begin.
Peer-to-Peer Education Program
Peer-to-Peer is a nine-week interactive education course about recovery from mental illness. It is open to any individual who has been diagnosed with a mental illness by a psychiatrist, and is led by instructors who are also consumers of mental health services. Topics include individual relapse prevention planning, debriefing and storytelling, and advance directive for psychiatric care.
Enrollment and materials for the course are free, but registration is required. Confidential.
Family-to-Family Education Program
Family-to-Family is a twelve-week course for family caregivers of individuals with mental illnesses and is taught by trained family members. Focuses include schizophrenia, bipolar disorder (manic depression), clinical depression, panic disorder, and obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD). Participants discuss the clinical treatment of these illnesses and teaches knowledge and skills that family members need to cope more effectively.
Enrollment and course materials are free, but registration is required.
Visions For Tomorrow Program
Visions For Tomorrow is a eight-week course for parents and caregivers of children with mental illnesses. Teachers of the program are trained family members who have experienced firsthand the rewards and challenges of raising children with brain disorders. The course offers caregivers an opportunity to share mutual experiences and learn valuable lessons from one another. The program covers educational material and provides the basics for day-to-day care giving skills.
Enrollment and course materials are free, but registration is required.
Annual Events and Awards
NAMI of CI stays active in the community with special events and fundraisers, such as those listed below. Visit our news page for information about current events and awards.
Annual Garage Sale
Each August, NAMI of CI holds a garage sale to raise funds for the organization. Garage sale items are donated by NAMI of CI members and other community members.
Stick Your Neck Out Awards
Each year, NAMI of CI gives Stick Your Neck Out Awards to a person or persons who have "stuck their neck out" in the name of mental illness.
